Boys watching TV in the 1950s

Historical film TV and radio

From binge-worthy period dramas to award-winning documentaries, find out why historical movies, TV and radio programs are more popular than ever, with this series of articles, podcasts and video

Ridley’s Scott’s Napoleon trailer: a historian reacts

What should we make of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon?

OppenheimerIs Nolan perpetuating a historical myth?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

J Robert Oppenheimer (left), and Cillian Murphy

Oppenheimer: the real history of the ‘father of the atomic bomb’

Oppenheimer: “destroyer of worlds”. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Barbenheimer quiz: should you see Barbie or Oppenheimer first, based on your historical knowledge?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

How Barbie changed the world. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A gear wheel in the Antikythera mechanism, an analogue computer created by ancient Greeks that forms the basis for the Archimedes Dial in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

General History

The real Archimedes Dial? The Antikythera mechanism explained

Indiana Jones

General History

Was there a real Indiana Jones?

A photograph taken during the filming of an ITV documentary to mark the 400th anniversary of the 1605 gunpowder plot. Justin is pictured on the left, with his camera

My life in historyJustin Pollard, historical consultant. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A mermaid combing her hair

General Early Modern

Tails from the deep: separating the real folklore of mermaids from Disney stories

India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte, Corey Mylchreest as Young King George in episode 3 of 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story'.

QuizCould You Make It Through A London Season In The Regency Era?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The real story of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte: from glittering courts to tragic decline

La Belle Assemblee - British women's magazine published 1806-1837, founded by John Bell (1745-1831), now best known for its Regency era fashion plates from "Fashions and Fashion Plates 1800-1900", by James Laver. [Penguin Books Limited, London and New York, 1943]. Artist Unknown.

Was the Regency era a good time to be a woman?The truth not seen in Bridgerton

India Amarteifio as young Queen Charlotte in episode 1 of 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story'.

Royal enlightenmentThe intellectual life of Queen Charlotte. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Queen Charlotte: real history behind the new Bridgerton series. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Ewan Horrocks as Aelfweard and Adrian Schiller as Aethelhelm in The Last Kingdom season 5

Ælfweard and Æthelstan: were they rivals for the throne of Wessex?

Bamburgh Castle is an imposing coastal fortress in North-East England

General History

Bamburgh Castle: The Real Bebbanburg of The Last Kingdom

A bloodied Uhtred of Bebbanburg in Seven Kings Must Die

Seven Kings Must Die ending explained: what next for England?

Uhtred of Bebbanburg in Seven Kings Must Die

Seven Kings Must Die: the real history behind the Last Kingdom movie

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg in Seven Kings Must Die

Seven Kings Must DieWhat to expect from the Last Kingdom movie

HMS Bittern on fire and severely damaged after a German air attack in Namsos fjord, 30 April 1940. Both sides sustained heavy losses in the battle of Norway but the German navy was less able to absorb these than its British foe. (Photo by Topfoto)

Second World War

Narvik in contextHow battle for Norway in 1940 saved Britain

27th April 1946: Miners and steelworkers in Tredegar pay the Workmen's Medical Aid Society twopence out of every pound they earn to go towards their medical, dental and optical services. A nurse bends over a small boy to see to his injuries. Original Publication: Picture Post - 4062 - Where Bevan Got His National Health Plan - pub. 1946

General History

Upcoming in 2023: historical anniversaries, exhibitions & television

Conrad Nagel and Dorothy Dalton in movie still from Fool's Paradise, 1921.

Hollywood in the 1920s: stars, scandals and the end of silent films

Amy James-Kelly as Anne Boleyn (right) in Netflix's Blood, Sex & Royalty.

Anne Boleyn’s voice: lost to the past, or louder than ever?

Hidden livesVictorian fasting girls

A still from American-made war epic All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet On The Western FrontWhy its lessons still matter today

Tony Blair (Bertie Carvel) and Cherie Blair (Lydia Leonard) in 'The Crown'

The Crown S5 E10 real history: the HMY Britannia's final voyage, and a political landslide

Princess Diana's 1995 interview with Martin Bashir.

The Crown S5 E8 real history: Diana’s Panorama interview causes fireworks

Camilla (Olivia Williams) in 'The Crown'.

The Crown S5 E5 real history: ‘Camillagate’ tapes and a “war council” for the monarchy’s survival